A man who threw hot coffee over a petrol station worker before punching and kicking him has been jailed.
Muhammad Saeed, 20, of Tennyson Close, Crawley, was sentenced to two years and four months in prison at Lewes Crown Court on 10 August after admitting assault occasioning actual bodily harm and theft.
The court heard Saeed entered the Shell petrol station in London Road, Burgess Hill, at around 10pm on 15 December last year.
An argument began after he was asked not to eat cookies and drink coffee at the counter.
Saeed was asked to leave the premises but refused.
He then threw a cup of hot coffee over the shop worker before further assaulting him by punching and kicking him.
Police said Saeed then took another coffee from the machine and left without paying for it.
The victim was left feeling anxious and fearful of other customers while at work following the attack.
Speaking after the case, Detective Constable Annabel Turner said: “Saaed carried out a shocking assault on a retail worker.
“It followed an argument where the defendant was being deliberately obstructive, refusing to stop eating and drinking at the counter where he had spilled coffee.
“Despite the shop worker’s reasonable request for Saeed to take his items and leave the shop, Saeed instead launched the hostile assault by throwing hot coffee over the victim, then further assaulted him inside the shop.
“He stole a new coffee from the machine and left without paying for it.
“The incident has had an ongoing impact on the victim, who should not have to fear being assaulted while at work.
“We identified the suspect from CCTV images and Saeed was arrested. He is now serving a custodial sentence.”
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